OHIO 11th District judge seeks high-court seat

Judge O'Neill says his message is simple: 'Money and judges don't mix.'
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Judge William M. O'Neill of the 11th District Court of Appeals, a Democrat, has filed nominating petitions to run for Ohio Supreme Court justice next year.
O'Neill, 56, said Tuesday that next November he will seek the unexpired two years on the term of former Justice Deborah Cook, who is on the federal appeals bench.
Judge O'Neill said he is limiting contributions to his campaign fund to $10 from individuals and $1,000 from organizations to protest what he said has been the bankrolling of past Supreme Court campaigns by special interests.
"We really don't want our judges to become beggars, but that's what we've forced them to do," Judge O'Neill said. "I think I've got a strong message: 'Money and judges don't mix.'"
He has suggested imposing a $10 surcharge on new lawsuits filed in Ohio to provide public funding for judicial campaigns.
Background
Judge O'Neill was elected to the 11th District Court of Appeals, based in Warren, in 1996 and was re-elected in 2002. The 11th District is made up of Trumbull, Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga and Portage counties.
In the past, he has served as an assistant Ohio attorney general and was in private practice before going to the bench.
The appellate judge also has worked as an organizer for the Communications Workers of America.
Judge O'Neill, a Geauga County resident, has a law degree from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Ohio University in Athens.
Justice Terrence O'Donnell, appointed by Republican Gov. Bob Taft to replace Justice Cook, is considering running for retention for the remaining two years on Cook's original term, said Nathan Minerd, an O'Donnell campaign spokesman.
Or, Justice O'Donnell, a Republican, may run for the open seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Justice Francis Sweeney, Minerd said. Justice O'Donnell is to decide soon, Minerd said.
Other seats on the Ohio high court up next November include those held by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer and Justice Paul E. Pfeifer, both Republicans.
Republicans hold a 5-2 majority on the Ohio high court.
The filing deadline for next November's election is Jan. 2.